Boiler-flue cleaner



(No Model.)

D. H. SWEENEY.

Boiler Flue Gleaner. No. 239,882; Patented April 5,1881.

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UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID H. SWEENEY, or FITOHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOILER-FLUE CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,882, dated April 5, 1881.

Application filed January 17, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DAVID H. SWEENEY,

of Fitchhurg, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boiler-Flue Cleaners; and I declare the following to be a description of my said invention sufliciently full, clear, and exact to enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my present invention is to provide a mechanism for cleaning out the tubes or flues of steam-boilers, which shall be convenient, durable, and efficient, and which can be entered or drawn into the tube or flue with facility and without liability of catching against the end of the tube where it forms an angle with the boiler-head. I attain this object by mechanism constructed as shown in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of my improved flue-cleaner. Fig. 2 represents an end View of the same. Fig. 3 represents a transverse section of the device within a flue.

A denotes the body of the instrument, the central part of which is, in the presentinstance, of rectangular form, but, if preferred, might be of cylindrical or other shape, and of a suitable length to support the expanding springs B. Said body A has a hollow or opening extending longitudinally through its center for the reception of the rod 0, by means of which it is to be pushed or drawn through the flue. The rod 0 passes through the body A; and its end screws into a threaded portion at the front end thereof, while the aperture at the rear end of said body is made of a size to fit the rod, and thus give a firm and stiff connection between the parts. I

The body Ais provided with heads A at either end, composed of radial ribs or flanges a, which taper toward the outer ends, giving a conoidal form to the heads, as illustrated. The ribs or flanges a extend longitudinally of the body, and at their bases, on either side, there are formed, slight elevations b, which serve as seats for the expanding springs B. The springs B are made of flat metal, in elliptic form, and their ends are slotted or bifurcated at d, to embrace the flanges a, the action portion of the springs occupying a position between the heads A, and said springs are retained in connection with the body by means of pins or studs D, fixed in the flanges a in the manner illustrated.

To the outer central part of the springs B are attached transverse scraping-blades E, provided with suitable attaching-plates, E. The outer edges of the scraping-blades are formed on a curve, to correspond with the circle of the inner surface of the flue F, and their ends are beveled, as at f, or made so as to lap past each other when the springs are compressed, as when passing the instrument through the flue. (See Fig. 3.)

The form of the heads A is such as to cause the device to pass into the ends of the flues or tubes without catching on the angle where the tube meets the boiler-head, both when entering it or when drawing the cleaner back after it has passed out at the farther end of the tube, and the radial flanges a protect the ends of the springs and pins D from contact with any portion of the flues or other objects. a

The action portion of the springs may b made somewhat'shorter than the distance between the heads A, so as to permit longitudinal play between the parts, to allow of the body being moved a short distance back or forth without moving the scrapers, whereby a hammering action can be imparted to the scraping-blades and the weight of the body and bar 0 thus utilized for forcing the'scrapers in, removing any hard scale or inerustation that may find lodgment at any portion of the flue.

In using the cleaner it is forced into the flue and passed from one end thereof to the other in the ordinary manner, the springs being compressed so as to hold the scraping-blades against the inner surfaces of the flue for scraping oil the soot and ashes deposited thereon.

In lieu of forking the ends of the springs B over the ends of the flanges a, said springs may be secured between said flanges by means of screws or bolts passing through the slots 01 and into the body A, said screws being provided with projecting heads to retain the springs upon the bolts. struction shown.

I prefer, however, the con- I am aware that flue-cleaners haveheretofore been made with elliptic springs for. supporting the scraping-blades, and also with conoidal heads at the ends of said springs, and

5 I do not therefore herein make claim, broadly,

to such features.

What I claim as of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with the body A, provided 10 with the flat spring-seats b and radial flanges a, as shown and described, of the scrapers E,

supported by the springs B, having bifurcated or slotted ends d, embracing said flanges, and

the retaining-pins D, passing through said flanges, all constructed and arranged as and 15 for the purposes set forth.

Witness my hand.

DAVID H. SWEENEY.

Witnesses:

O. E. F. HAYWARD, STEPHEN WALL. 

